OPP 95-28349 PI: P. SCHLOSSER This proposal requests funds for collection, measurement, and interpretation of about 200 tracer element (Tritium, Helium, Oxygen, CFC's) samples in the framework of the planned 1996 Arctic Ocean submarine cruise. The work will be focused on a broad survey of the upper waters in the Canadian Basin. Results from a previous submarine cruise (USS PARGO, 1993) demonstrated the feasibility of obtaining high-quality transient tracer samples from surface stations. The measurements will be used, together with hydrographic data, to (1) study the transport of shelf waters into the Arctic halocline, (2) derive evolution, circulation patterns, and mean residence times of the upper waters in the Canadian Basin, (3) delineate pathways and storage times of river runoff and sea-ice meltwater in the upper layers of the Canadian Basin, and (4) to validate Arctic Ocean circulation models.
